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Twiceasnice
Twiceasnice Member Posts: 117
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Soc Security
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  • Twiceasnice
    Twiceasnice Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2010

    Has anyone on the listserve had experience with applying for or receiving social security disability (SSDI) with Stage III breast cancer? My understanding from a social worker at my hospital was that anyone with this diagnosis automatically received it. Thanks for your input and contact me offline if you prefer--

     Geminihalf

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  • gale1525
    gale1525 Member Posts: 232
    edited April 2010

    I called to find out and was told that I didn't have enough credits to get disability, they only I might get them is if I had 1 year or less to live. My friend has complications from chemo and can't stand for long periods of time, and she has been turned down twice, she said the next step was to get a lawyer.

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited April 2010

    I don't think being stage 3 means disability is automatic....circumstances and abilities or lack of with the Dx is what determines eligibility....sometimes disability will decide that you can work, but just not at previous occupation and they can recommend re-training (or they used to)....many, many moons ago, I did evals for SSI....but not up to date on current requirements

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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited April 2010

    I was out last year on long term disability. The insurance company made me apply for SSDI. They wanted to make sure that if I ended up disabled that it would be that much quicker that they would get their premiums back. I applied and was denied and it was appealed several times. SSDI said I was able to work just maybe in a different job. You have to be Stage IV to automatically qualify. I think the only exception is if there are other medical reasons why you cant work. Plus you can not qualify til you have been out a year and I dont think even an Oncologist would say you were disabled after that. Good luck though

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  • Brenda_R
    Brenda_R Member Posts: 509
    edited April 2010

    You need to meet one of these conditions-

    13.10 Breast (except sarcoma-13.04) (See 13.00K4.)

    A. Locally advanced carcinoma (inflammatory carcinoma, tumor of any size with direct extension to the chest wall or skin, tumor of any size with metastases to the ipsilateral internal mammary nodes.

    B. Carcinoma with metastases to the supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes, to 10 or more axillary nodes, or with distant metastases.

    OR

    C. Recurrent carcinoma, except local recurrence that remits with antineoplastic therapy.

    I met this one and was approved in 2 months-

    "tumor of any size with metastases to the ipsilateral internal mammary nodes"

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited April 2010

    That's interesting, but also somewhat disturbing to me as I may qualify.  I'm not sure if I had metastases but I do have cancer in an internal mammary node.  I was ignorant when this first started, that I wasn't worried when they told me about the mammary node.  I thought they would just chop it off with my bilat.

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  • Brenda_R
    Brenda_R Member Posts: 509
    edited April 2010

    My positive IM node was under the breastbone and couldn't be removed.

    You still have to "not be able to do substantial gainful employment for at least 1 year".

    Everything I've read about positive IM nodes points to a worse outcome, although I am and have been cancer free for a couple years now. So I still think it's a crap shoot.

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  • concernedsis
    concernedsis Member Posts: 256
    edited April 2010

    The social security admin has compassionate allowances - diagnoses that are definite qualifiers that will fast track - ie be approved in 1 month - instead of many months to years - breast cancer is on the list if it is inoperable or distant mets. 

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  • jessamine
    jessamine Member Posts: 322
    edited April 2010

    I have been on SSI for years for an unrelated disability and what I know is this- it is standard practice for an application (for any reason) to be denied the first time. It is very important to APPEAL! Also, after youhave been denied once you can get an SSI lawyer (these are secialists who do nothing else and do not cost money out of pocket- they are paid when you win by recieving a percentage of your settlement) which is totally worth the money they recieve. It often takes a long time to actually get money which is really hard but you do get back pay from when you first applied.

    The most important factor for approval in my experience is a really good doctor letter, stating in detail 1)that you can't work and 2) all the specific things you are unable to do that limit your ability to work (ie, lift more than 5 pounds, stand for more than 20 minutes, etc...). Look at the criteria online and then find a doctor who will confirm that you meet them.

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